We're Going on a Turkey HuntRefrain:
We're going on a turkey hunt just for fun,
Don't need a bow and arrow and we don't need a gun.

Verse 1:
We're going on a turkey hunt so up and out of bed,
We need to find the turkey with its feathers painted_(red)
RefrainVerse 2:
We're going on a turkey hunt and you can come too,
We're sure to find the turkey with its feathers painted_(blue)
RefrainVerse 3:
We're going on a turkey hunt that bird's a funny fellow,
We need to find the turkey with its feathers painted _(yellow)
RefrainVerse 4:
We're going on a turkey hunt I think I see a track,
It must be the turkey with its feathers painted _(black)
RefrainVerse 5:
We're going on a turkey hunt we'll look all night,
Until we find the turkey with its feathers painted _(white)
RefrainVerse 6:
We're going on a turkey hunt my eyes are so keen,
We're sure to find the turkey with its feathers painted _(green)
RefrainVerse.7:
We're going on a turkey hunt we'd better not blink,
Or we're sure to miss the turkey with its feathers painted _(pink)RefrainVerse 8:
We're going on a turkey hunt we'll look all around,
Until we find the turkey with its feathers painted _(brown)

Ending:
We went on a turkey hunt just for fun,
And we found those turkeys, each and every one.

Description:
Before the lesson.Draw or trace and cut-out
large turkeys from each piece of construction paper. I use the Carson
Dellosa turkeys to copy on to the sheets before I cut them out. Hide
the turkeys throughout the room or outside (just don't forget where they're
hidden). I try to hide them in the same order as the verses.

Lesson:
Sit the children down and talk about the many types of foods we eat on Thanksgiving. Focus
on the importance of the turkey. Depending on the age of the children you may
want to talk about the first Thanksgiving. Tell the children that they
are going to go on a turkey hunt (I explain that on this hunt we won't
be using guns, etc.)They are going to look
for different colored turkeys. They have to listen to each line
of the poem and figure out which color word fits in the poem. Teach the
children the Refrain
of the poem so they can chant that line as they are walking around.

Start
the hunt:Stop the children in
front of a hidden turkey and read the corresponding verse. Have the children guess
which color word fits in that verse. Choose a student to find that turkey.
Continue until all turkeys are found.

Follow
up: Have the children who found the turkeys give their
turkeys to a child who didn't get
to hunt. Reread the poem and ask the new children to come up when they hear their
appropriate line. I ask the class to say "Gobble,
Gobble, Gobble.."
until I have the child's turkey in my hand.

Description: Read the following story to the
children and when you read the color the children with that color hold up
their turkeys.

Tommy
TurkeyTommy was a beautiful, big, fat turkey, who
lived on a farm. One day just before Thanksgiving he went for a walk.
On the way he met a dog and the dog said:Chorus:
"Ha Ha! Ho Ho! He He! You are the funniest Turkey that
I ever did see."Tommy Turkey:
"What's wrong with me?"Dog:
"Look at your ugly color. You would be much prettier if you were
red."

So Tommy Turkey hurried home and dyed his
feathers a beautiful bright red.He walked down the street and met a rabbit
and the rabbit looked at him and said:Chorus:
"Ha Ha! Ho Ho! He He! You are the funniest Turkey that
I ever did see."Tommy Turkey:
"What is the matter with me?"Rabbit:
"Whoever heard of a red turkey?
You would be much more beautiful if you
were green."

So Tommy turkey hurried home and dyed his
feathers a beautiful green. While
he was out walking he met a cow who said:Chorus:
"Ha Ha! Ho Ho! He He! You are the funniest Turkey that
I ever did see."Tommy Turkey:
"I am? What is wrong with me now?"Cow: "Whoever
heard of a green turkey? You
would be much more beautiful if you
were orange."

So Tommy Turkey hurried home and dyed his
feathers a beautiful orange and said: "Now I am the most beautiful turkey in the
world." But soon he met a man and a woman who looked at him and said:Chorus:
"Ha Ha! Ho Ho! He He! You are the funniest Turkey that
I ever did see."Man and Woman:
"Look at your color. You would be much more beautiful if you were brown.
Come home with us and we'll turn you into the most beautiful turkey
in the world."Tommy went with them and before you could say
Roy Rogers he had turned into the most beautiful golden-brown
ROAST turkey you EVER ATE.

Comments: The children really like to be involved
in the telling of the story.

Cooking:
Pumpkin Pudding ConesTeachers can introduce
measuring to preschoolers with this cool cooking recipe from Deborah
C. who says, "This is so much fun and so delicious!"

Description: Let the children help mix the
pudding with the milk. Then add the pumpkin mix and stir well. The children
then spoon the mixture into ice creamcones. "Frost" the tops with whipped
topping. This is enough for 10 children.

Description: Ahead of time cut out the 12"
x 12" squares and make a nine square grid for the quilt for each child. Have
the children place the fabric squares on the the brown paper square to resemble a
quilt. With the square remaining have the children draw things they are thankful
for. Last they can decorate the quilt with stickers.

Comments: You can add a string of raffia to
give this project a hanger.

Description: Have the children dip their hands
in the paint and place the hand prints on the right and left side of the construction
paper. Let dry and then glue this poem in the middle. You could also
include a picture of the child.

The
Poem:Dear Mommy and Daddy,These aren't just turkeysAs anyone can see,I made them with my hands,Which are a part of me,This comes to you with lots of love,Especially to say,I hope you have a very HappyThanksgiving Day! Love, (the
child's name)

Thanksgiving
DinnerKindergarten and preschool children create a
Thanksgiving place mat while discussing the meaning of this special day
during this craft activity by Carla.

Materials:
Construction paper, napkins and glue.

Description: A special way to discuss thanksgiving
with your students is to ask them what they are most thankful for. This
project is perfect for them to share with mom and dad. It is a thanksgiving dinner
place mat.

First take a regular piece of construction
paper and use this as your place mat. Then you can cut out of paper a
fork, knife, and spoon. When you have all the pieces ready glue your place
setting together. But you're not done yet, you need a plate. Cut one large
circle for the plate and on each plate have your students write what they
are most thankful for.If they are too young to write then have them
tell you and you can write it for them. You can add a napkin and maybe
designs on the plate for authenticity.

Mr.
Turkey SongJacqui G. shares
this action song for Thanksgiving.

Tune of "Shortnin' Bread"Children hold out
arms to show a big, fat, turkey body,and wobble back and
forth from foot to foot.

I am Mr. Turkey, turkey,
turkey,I am Mr. Turkey, big
and fat.Turn around and show
hands backwards on behind with fingers pointing up like feathers.

On my tail are feathers,
feathers, feathersOn my tail are feathers,
now what do you think of that?wobble againWhen I walk I wobble,
wobble, wobble,and when I talk I gobble,
gobble, gobble, gobble!!

Tommy
Turkey Lost His FeathersPreschool and kindergarten
children practice matching colors with color words, and counting the numbers
of each color of feather, during this activity by Sue M.

Materials: Wall sized
turkey without feathers. Several large feathers in all primary colors.
Neutral colored cards with the color names on them. Colored cards
with the matching color name printed on them. Large, individual
number cards.

Description:Each child is given a
large colored feather. The teacher says "Tommy Turkey has lost his
feathers. Can you help him find them?" Teacher then holds
up the neutral colored card with a color name printed on it and asks,
"Who has this color of feather?" Those children who can read the
color name, bring the matching feather up and it is attached to the wall
turkey. If no one recognizes the color name, the teacher holds up
the colored card with the color name printed on it, and the child who
recognizes the color then brings his or her matching feather up and puts
it on the wall turkey.

Once the feathers are
in place, the teacher asks, "How many red feathers, green feathers, blue,
etc. does Tommy Turkey have?" The teacher reinforces the children
by pointing to the colored feathers. When the children have responded
correctly, the teacher asks for a volunteer to come up and point to the
the numeral that says the number of feathers of a particular color.

Comments: Good way to
involve diverse abilities.

A Turkey
Named BERTJohnette W. shares
this rhyme for Thanksgiving.

There was a
turkey named Bert thought he'd make up a dance. A dance
for the king.hold hands above head
to make a pretend crownAnd queeneveryone hold out
your arms and curtsey like a queenAnd if he did a good
job they wouldn't eat him,Because that would be
mean.He went slide, closeslide and close your
feetSlide, closeslide and close your
feetFlap your wingspretend to flap wingsAnd touch your toes.He went slide, close,
slide, closeShake your tailshake your bootyAnd wiggle your noseplace finger on your
nose and wiggle it

Comments: It's really cute
and my kids just LOVE it!

Literacy:
Thanksgiving ActivityPromote sequencing, memory
and vocabulary skills with this activity form Kristen who works
with autistic children ages 6-12, but shares this project for Pre-K through
1st grade.

Description: Find a
cute Thanksgiving book that you don't mind tearing out the pages. Buy
a binder (any size) and a package of clear insert pages. On the top of
the inserts, put a strip of velcro. Tear out the pages of the book and
put them in the inserts. Using key words, laminate pictures and velcro
them to the top of the corresponding page.

As you read the story,
have the kids take the pictures off the page and put them on a flannel
board. After the story is over, you can retell the story using only the
pictures. Use the pictures as vocabulary work, make them into a memory
game, or go-fish. Let children try to sequence the pictures to make the
story. Make them into a Bingo board. By the end of the unit, they should
have lots of new Thanksgiving vocabulary words.

Description: Cut out
a turkey body (facing you) out of brown Bulletin board paper. Then cut
feathers out of the different color construction paper. Have each child
tell you what they are thankful for and write their word for word responses
on the feather of their choice. Arrange feathers behind the turkey body.
I titled my bulletin board, "I am Thankful for.."

Natural
Thanksgiving CenterpieceEncourage preschool and
kindergarten children to be thankful for their environment with this early
childhood activity by Debby.

Description:To make a natural turkey
you can go and buy the above items at a craft store or if you are lucky
to have natural resources out your door then take your class for a walk
and find different items on the ground that nature has given us. Lay the
pine cone on it's natural side to stand, you can also glue it to a small
board . Have the children glue the leaves and sticks into the "top"
of the pine cone making the feathers.

To make the face, glue
a cranberry on the under part of the other end, glue small rocks (you
can paint these) for eyes. Be creative with what your area as to offer
you this very colorful time of year.

Classroom
CornucopiaChildren create a classroom
project using ideas learned during the Thanksgiving Theme during this
activity by Erica.

Materials: Construction
paper, markers, glue, crayons and what ever you can gather to get those
creative wheels turning in your little ones heads.

Description: I do a
lesson plan on fruits and vegetables the week before Thanksgiving, and
on Friday I place various art media out on the art table and tell the
children that they can use what ever is available to create their favorite
fruit or vegetable.

When we are done I draw
a basket and place it on the wall. The children hang their fruit or vegetable
on the wall pouring out of the basket. Our gift of harvest to the other
classrooms at our center.

Description: Cut out
feather shapes for turkeys feathers, a head, wings and let children decorate
them. Glue them on to the margarine containers in the proper places and
add eyes. These can be used as centerpieces at Thanksgiving.Comments: Adding
a few goodies makes this a treat!

Thanksgiving
Turkey CenterpiecePreschool and kindergarten
children make their own turkey centerpiece while experiencing painting,
coloring, and gluing during this Thanksgiving art project by Maria
T.

Materials: Small brown
lunch bags, various colors of tempera paint (Fall colors), large paintbrush
or roller, turkey face and feet, glue, and old newspapers for "stuffing"
the turkey.

Description:1. Measure 5 1/2
inches from bottom of bag, measure all around and inside the folds also.
Paint this section in various colors. This will make the feathers for
the turkey. Cut on the seam of the bag down the 5 1/2 inches.

2. Stuff the bag
with old newspaper and tape tightly closed. This will form the turkey
body. Now fan the colored feather tail.

3. Glue the turkey
face on the bottom of the bag which is now really the front. Glue the
feet on the underneath side of the bag. You can find patterns for
the face and feet in teacher's idea books or coloring books.

4. Makes a great
centerpiece!!

Thanksgiving
Place MatLeah K. tells
how to create a Thanksgiving place mat, that can be laminated and kept
as a treasured keepsake, using a child's hand print to make a turkey.

Description: Using primary
paint brushes, paint each finger (except thumb) using fall colors; i.e..
one finger yellow, next red, next orange, next green. Lay child's
spread out fingers onto white paper and carefully lift up. Have
the child make a fist (thumb end facing up) and paint the curled up baby
finger and side of hand using brown paint.

Carefully lay painted
hand surface down onto paper with fleshy hand part under previous finger
prints. Lift up and you will see a turkey with a brown body (from
fleshy part of side of hand) and head (curled part of baby finger) with
four colored feathers above it's body.

Using red paint, paint
end of thumb and put thumb print right under the turkey's head to make
the "gobbler". Use wipes to clean the child's hand.

On cut out leaf print,
write "I am Thankful for" and have child fill in or tell you what
they are thankful for. Once filled in, tape with double sided tape
or glue onto white paper. May decorate with real leaves that are
dried and flattened (between pages of a thick book) or with leaf
shaped papers cut from leaf printed paper. Put child's name and
date on back and laminate it to use as a Thanksgiving place mat
and keepsake.Comments: Talk
about the color that the leaves are turning as you paint the fingers.

Description: Paint the
palm of the child's hand and thumb brown. Then paint each finger a different
color. Add to bottom of the thumb print a little red "gobbler". When dry
add feet to hand print. A Hand print Turkey!Comments: The
children love getting their hand painted. Its also a great sensory
project. Talk to the kids about how the paint feels on their hand.

Poem:
The TurkeyA pre-k thanksgiving rhyme for very young children.

The turkey is a funny birdHis head goes wobble, wobble,(move head from
side to side)The only word that he can sayIs gobble, gobble, gobble.(children walk with
a wiggle and repeat the last
line)